What do Republicans want in shutdown fight? One rep isn’t sure

Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman has become the posterchild of Democrats to explain what they view as the crazy Republican refusal to reopen the government with no strings attached.

Stutzman, a first-term representative, says conservatives are determined to wring concessions from Democrats in exchange for agreements to fund the government and raise the U.S. debt limit. He’s just not sure what is an acceptable deal.

“We’re not going to be disrespected,” the conservative told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. “We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”

Stutzman’s quote quickly went viral on Twitter and the Internet. Even President Barack Obama referred to the conservative’s remark in a speech on Thursday blasting Republicans for their stubbornness.

Political bloggers especially had fun with the quote. “Here is the short GOP quote that perfectly defines the shutdown,” wrote Derek Thompson of The Atlantic.

By midday Thursday, Stutzman had put out a statement saying he misspoke. “Yesterday, I carelessly misrepresented the ongoing budget debate and Speaker Boehner’s work on behalf of the American people,” Stutzman said. “Despite my remarks it’s clear that the American people want both parties to come to the table to reopen the government, tackle this nation’s debt crisis, and stop ObamaCare’s pain.”

If Stutzman is fortunate, his low spot on Washington’s totem pole might prevent his words from being placed on the Mount Rushmore of politically tone-deaf remarks.

One of the most famous were the comments by Roman Hruska, a former Nebraska senator who defended Supreme Court nominee G. Harrold Carswell in 1970 from criticism that he was a “mediocre” judge.

“Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they, and a little chance? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos.”

Hruska’s infamous defense helped sink the nomination. Democrats would love to use the words of conservatives like Stutzman to help force Republicans to heel, too.